Cisco validated

Design and deploy for impact

Cisco Validated provides documentation and best practices to help IT architects and practitioners design, deploy, and operate platforms to deliver trusted, unified experiences.

Why Cisco validated

Faster deployments

From system designs to configuration instructions, Cisco Validated guides make it easy for you to quickly implement your solutions.

Reduced risk

Cisco Validated guides help ensure products work together by design, based on common use cases and engineering system priorities.

Predictability

Backed by extensive testing, Cisco Validated guides help you set performance expectations and help ensure faster, more reliable deployments.

Browse validated designs

Cisco's expert-designed solutions, proven architectures, and best practices simplify your IT and security operations.

Wired and wireless LAN

Cisco software-defined access design guide

Automate wired and wireless campus with intent-based design for simplified deployment, security, and performance.

Wired and wireless LAN

Campus LAN and WLAN design guide

Design a reliable, secure, and high-performance wired and wireless campus network using best practices.

SD-WAN – Cisco secure routers

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN design guide

Design flexible, secure, and high-performing WAN solutions with Cisco Secure Routers.

Cloud

Zero trust access from Cisco – at a glance

Deliver seamless, secure access to applications and data across a hybrid, multi-device world with Cisco’s zero trust approach to secure access.

Data center networking

Application-Centric Infrastructure design guide

Simplify data center operations through automated tasks and application security with our expert ACI design guide.

AI-ready infrastructure

Cisco data center Networking blueprint for AI/ML applications

Fuel AI and ML apps. Build a high-speed network that handles the heaviest workloads.

Popular in campus and branch

Cloud networking

Zero Trust architecture guide

Verify every access request and protect data and resources with granular control and enhanced security.

SD-WAN solutions

Simplify branch connectivity with Cisco Secure Router SD-WAN architectures that strengthen policy control and enable secure scalability.

Cloud Networking

Outline validated cloud networking architectures that enable scalable fabric, segmentation, and secure connectivity across modern environments.

SASE/SSE architectures

Provide validated SASE and SSE blueprints that protect users, applications, and access with secure connectivity everywhere.

On-premises deployments

Deliver tested architectures and best practices to modernize campus and branch environments with resilient operations.

Wired and Wireless LAN

Build high-performance wired and wireless LAN environments with trusted designs for mobility, scale, and consistent user experiences.

Hybrid solutions

Connect cloud and on-premises environments with validated hybrid architectures that improve agility, visibility, and operational control.

Popular in collaboration

Collaboration preferred architectures

On-premises collaboration design

Build a secure, local foundation to keep people connected, with confidence.

Collaboration preferred architectures

Streamline deployment with our tested, scalable models for on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments. Expert guidance for enterprise success.

Collaboration solutions design guidance

Master system-level design with our comprehensive SRND guides and sizing tools. Get the technical blueprints necessary to implement robust, scalable solutions.

Hybrid work

Optimize office environments through expert layouts and technology configurations designed for modern hybrid teams. Create top-tier collaboration spaces today.

Popular in data center

Data center networking

VXLAN BGP EVPN design and implementation

Implement advanced overlay networks for data centers with VXLAN BGP EVPN.

AI-ready infrastructure

Deliver high-performance, lossless infrastructure for AI/ML workloads. From edge to cloud, our blueprints optimize performance and latency for any AI environment.

FlexPod platforms

Leverage converged infrastructure for virtualized platforms, SAP, and AI. Get tested, scalable deployment models for the most demanding data center applications.

Data center networking

Simplify operations with automated, secure, and AI-ready network fabrics. Achieve consistent policy enforcement and high-performance connectivity across the data center.

Data center design navigator

Easily find the solution that best aligns with infrastructure needs. Browse our comprehensive navigator to map specific application requirements with validated designs.

Big data

Boost productivity and scale analytics with high-performance UCS solutions. Access blueprints for Cloudera, Hortonworks, and data-intensive workloads.

Popular in service provider

Routed optical networking

Routed optical networking white paper

Gain insights into cutting-edge optical networking strategies and best practices for infrastructure design and deployment.

Routed optical networking

Simplify infrastructure by converging IP and optical layers. Our guides offer expert strategies to reduce complexity, lower costs, and enhance network scalability.

5G network architecture

Accelerate 5G transformation with our automation and converged transport blueprints. Enable seamless orchestration and efficient, scalable network slicing today.

Intelligent peering

Optimize network interconnections for peak performance. Our design guides provide best practices for peering fabric, telemetry, and reliable edge connectivity.

Agile services networking

Build resilient, automated metro networks. Leverage SRv6 and SDN transport to address bandwidth demands and enable programmable, distributed service architectures.

Popular industry design guide

Manufacturing

Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE) validated design

Explore how CPwE can help you design and securely deploy an industrial network infrastructure.

Manufacturing

Accelerate smart factory transition. Implement secure, agile industrial automation and Industry 4.0 technologies with our proven network design guides for digital manufacturing.

Utilities and renewables

Modernize power grid infrastructure through validated designs for renewable energy integration, substation and distribution automation, AMI, and grid cybersecurity.

Oil and gas

Boost productivity and security for upstream, midstream, and downstream operations. Leverage our design guides to automate extraction, pipelines, and refinery control systems.

Rugged enterprise networks

Extend enterprise-grade security to uncarpeted, rugged environments. Our validated designs ensure reliable connectivity and management for challenging, non-climate-controlled spaces.

Cisco validated profiles

Cisco Validated Profiles (CVP) detail topologies, hardware and software features, and use cases—all validated as complete systems for reliable deployment.

Large enterprises and government

Trusted solutions for validated profiles in large enterprises and government sectors help to ensure security and compliance.

Manufacturing

Improve business operations by digitizing production environments.

Healthcare

Robust network solutions for validated profiles in healthcare help to ensure secure and seamless connectivity.

University

Efficient network solutions for validated profiles in universities support secure and collaborative learning environments.

Engineering alliances

Innovate with a simplified, validated ecosystem.

AI-ready data centers

Revolutionize your AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) data centers with liquid and immersion cooling, slashing energy costs while boosting hardware reliability for high-density computing excellence.

Future-proofed workplaces

Enable next-gen workplaces with DC microgrids and PoE-based smart infrastructure, unifying power and data for IoT, lighting, shading, and HVAC.

Cisco validated communities

Join your peers

Check out the Cisco validated communities aligned to Cisco validated outputs. They can help you design, deploy, and operate platforms that deliver unified experiences at every touchpoint.